BLAST CLAIM DELAYED RESIDENT WINS FIRST DECISION

For the first time, Weston's blasting mediation panel decided to award money to a homeowner for damage deemed to be caused by construction blasting.

But moments later the panel's decision was delayed by officials from the group that created the blasting board.

Indian Trace Community Development District supervisor Ted Brown complained that the award could bring a flood of claims.

And other district officials said they did not have the proper papers to issue payment for the claim.

The result: Weston resident Steven Chess will have to wait before he knows whether he will be compensated for cracks in the tile around his swimming pool.

Chess filed a claim with the blasting board, arguing that construction blasting near his home caused the damage.

In Weston, as in most of west Broward County, the limestone rock just beneath the surface is so hard it cannot be dug; it has to be blasted with explosives. Some homeowners maintain the blasting damages their houses.

The Weston board was established last April as a last recourse for damage complaints.

Chess' award was the first granted by the board -- but Indian Trace officials said they needed to know more before they could pay the claim.

"One, we didn't have a copy of our notes to determine the procedure," district supervisor Mark Myers said. "Also, the photographs showing the damages were not brought."

Myers said Chess also had not signed an agreement that frees the district from any liability to the claim.

A decision delaying the claim until the district's next meeting in May angered some members of the blasting mediation panel.

"There has been considerable time delaying and delaying, this and the homeowner has been put through the grinder," said mediation panel member Steve Keller.

The three-member mediation panel investigates blast-damage claims that were denied by general contractors, insurers and blasters.

If the panel agrees with the claims, it can recommend payment of up to $1,500 to homeowners. The money comes from a $25,000 fund set up by Indian Trace and Arvida Corp., Weston's development company.

The panel is composed of Keller, a Weston resident; Indian Trace engineer Roger Moore; and Bill Brewer, director of development and engineering for Arvida Corp.

Chess' claim was for $1,500 for the cracked tiles around his pool.

The blasting panel considered his case on Monday, and voted 2-1 to pay it.

Keller recommended that district officials pay $1,500; Moore recommended a payment of between $300 to $400. Brewer voted to deny the claim. Ultimately, it is up to the Indian Trace board to decide how much to pay.

Dozens of Weston residents have complained about cracks in walls and other parts of their homes after blasting.

Arvida officials have referred the homeowners to Geosonics Inc., a company they hired to monitor the blasting -- and Geosonics has said the cracks are normal house settling.